Rachel's Law Update

In 2003 Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld published a book titled Funding Evil; How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It . She was sued for libel by a Saudi business man. In response to this and similar incidents referred to as "libel tourism" New York's legislature passed, and on May-01-2008 Gov. Paterson signed, a law which "offers New Yorkers greater protection against libel judgments in countries whose laws are inconsistent with the freedom of speech granted by the United States Constitution."

Now referred to as Rachel' Law, a national version S. 2977, the Free Speech Protection Act of 2008, was introduced by Sen. Arlen Specter on May 6, 2008. The bill would protect journalists and authors from libel suits brought against them in foreign courts. S. 2977 would allow federal courts to determine whether there has been defamation under United States law when a U.S. journalist or author is sued in a foreign court. The bill also authorizes courts to bar enforcement of a foreign judgment and to award damages.

According to Sen. Herb Kohl the bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee of which he is a member, he stated in a recent email (7/17/2008), "A free press is essential to an open society and is a cornerstone of our democracy. Congress must remain vigilant in protecting our most cherished civil liberties as enumerated by the Bill of Rights."

Equally if not more important, citizens need to remain vigilant and those that have knowledge and understanding of the dangers of Islamic doctrine have a civic duty beyond debating politics and voting and that duty is to constantly work to inform and educated policy makers of the threat to our freedoms. Xeriscapist